Why doesn't Callum Smith get the same praise as Usyk?

[BangEM]

Everyone acts like Usyk is the best thing since slice bread because he won the same tourney Callum Smith won for his weight class. And Callum Smith did it in a more spectacular fashion because Usyk struggled with two boxers and won one of them by a MD. Prior to the tourney - Usyk didn't fight anyone and I remember seeing him struggle against some African boxer.

It's a mix anti-British bias and overrating Eastern European boxers like most have been doing of late. These casuals don't watch fights, they just follow the popular narrative in the media.

[MDPopescu]

Everyone acts like Usyk is the best thing since slice bread because he won the same tourney Callum Smith won for his weight class. And Callum Smith did it in a more spectacular fashion because Usyk struggled with two boxers and won one of them by a SD. Prior to the tourney - Usyk didn't fight anyone and I remember seeing him struggle against some African boxer.

It's a mix anti-British bias and overrating Eastern European boxers like most have been doing of late.

I like Callum Smith very much, but Usyk didn't struggle vs anybody, tbh... he struggled vs Bellew, instead...

[BangEM]

I like Callum Smith very much, but Usyk didn't struggle vs anybody, tbh... he struggled vs Bellew, instead...

Usyk struggled against Michael Hunter until the late rd burst. And he struggled against Mairis Briedis (the fight was close and in a biased country, Briedis would've won the fight based on home advantage).

Then you have the Bellew fight. Bellew is average at best at his peak and he was past his prime in that fight.

[The Big Dunn]

Ustk has proven himself a top tier fighter. Callum Smith hasn’t proven to be on the same level.

[Clegg]

Because people have seen them both fight?

[mlac]

I agree when i saw him go the distance with that late notice replacement kickboxer, i thought this man is special.

[BangEM]

Ustk has proven himself a top tier fighter. Callum Smith hasn’t proven to be on the same level.

How did Usyk prove himself and Callum Smith didn't when they won the same tourney for their weight classes?

Before the tourney - Usyk didn't fight anyone. The guy just has a bunch of South African boxers on his resume. And when did South Africa become a boxing country?

And after the tourney - the only person he fought is an over-the-hill Bellew who was winning on all cards before he got knocked out.

[MDPopescu]

Usyk struggled against Michael Hunter until the late rd burst. And he struggled against Mairis Briedis (the fight was close and in a biased country, Briedis would've won the fight based on home advantage).

Then you have the Bellew fight. Bellew is average at best at his peak and he was past his prime in that fight.

The Hunter fight wasn't in that tournament, I guess... (and Usyk was 117-110 on all score cards)...

[BangEM]

Because people have seen them both fight?

Callum Smith actually has a better aesthetically pleasing style than Usyk.

Usyk just has good footwork and the late burst in fight with his workrate. He's not the most technically gifted fighter out there.

[Southpawology]

if smith beats benavidez or plant he will be praised. If he beats both of them he rockets up the P4P list